Killer whale: the clue's in the name

Of all the explanations put forward in the wake of the death of a trainer at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, perhaps the most bizarre is that the killer whale was enacting a mating behaviour.

"He was used a lot [by SeaWorld] for mating, and could have even been enacting a mating behavior during the incident," said Nancy Black, who runs California's Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Black also told Discovery News that the orca, Tilikum, could have "lashed out" from stress or boredom.

Isn't it strange that the killer whale is being characterised as aggressive? Killer whales are top predators. You wouldn't be surprised if a tiger lashed out at someone. Is it because we are so fond of cetaceans and their intelligence that we forget what they are? Or are we embarrassed at keeping them captive and so make excuses for them?In the British newspaper The Times,
a marine mammal biologist, Naomi Rose of the Humane Society of the
United States, is reported as saying that the orca's "lack of concern
about killing humans could be because Tilikum was unused to having a
human being in the water with him".

Rose goes on to say:

"Orca are certainly capable of aggression, as whales at SeaWorld and other parks have shown with plenty of attacks."

They wouldn't be very good predators if they weren't capable of aggression. But Rose here is referring to two previous attacks involving Tilikum.
He was blamed for killing a trainer in 1991 at Sealand of the Pacific
near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and was also involved in the death of
a man in 1999.

Steve Huxter, who was head of Sealand's animal care and training department in 1991, was reported in the UK's The Guardian as saying he was "surprised" the orca had killed again. He said Tilikum was a well-behaved, balanced animal.

And the excuses for Tilikum continue. Back at Discovery News, Richard Ellis, a marine conservationist at the
American Museum of Natural History, says that the whale "was not trying
to eat the trainer", but believes his actions were
"premeditated" and intentional. (It reminds me that dolphins have been suspected of carrying out "serial" attacks on other cetaceans.)

"[Tilikum] decided to do this as opposed to keep swimming around in circles,"
Ellis said. He would not speculate, though, on what the whale
actually intended.

Do we really need to explain why a top predator would attack a potential prey item? Sure, orcas don't attack humans much, even in the wild. But this, says Matt Walker at the BBC, is probably because they live in cold water and don't overlap with humans much.

Last week we heard Lori Marino, a biologist at Emory University in
Atlanta, Georgia, tell the American Association for the Advancement of Science
conference that captive cetaceans are suffering psychological
problems:

"Dolphins are sophisticated, self-aware, highly intelligent beings with
individual personalities, autonomy and an inner life. They are
vulnerable to tremendous suffering and psychological trauma," Marino said in a press release.

We're in a bit of a bind. If we want to keep orca in tiny pools, we might have to expect them to attack us from time to time. If we release Tilikum and long-term captive orca, like we did with Willy of Free Willy fame, we might be condemning them to loneliness and an early death.

So we'll probably continue to keep them in captivity. As the New York Times reports, "that's a big money-making animal."

If a killer whale wanted to kill a human being, it would use its teeth.

A killer whale has to come up for air, just like a human being. However, it can stay submerged far longer than a human being.

A killer whale would not know, and could not guess, that a human being will drown within a few minutes. How many people would guess that a hummingbird will starve within hours if it is not fed?

The whale may have intended to tease, frighten or dominate its trainer, without intending to actually harm her.

One should also be careful around elephants. An elephant would not guess just how fragile the human ribcage is. An elephant will not step on you, but his trunk is strong enough to crush ribs, and he does not know it.

Prescient
on February 26, 2010 12:15 PM

On Wednesday night I was watching a BBC Natural World programme just before the Olympics came on. This programme was about an exceptionally tame Killer Whale (or Orca) that just needed human company.

They decided he was getting too close so they kept trying to brush him off but he kept coming back. I thought he must have escaped from something like a sea life exhibit.

I couldn't help thinking "what's this, we now have to call the Killer Whale by a politically correct name, Orca". "That can't be right petting him and getting into the water." "Look at those teeth".

Maybe they should try training Great White Sharks. They're a well-balanced sort of animal.

John Laity
on February 26, 2010 1:11 PM

I visited Sealand of the Pacific a couple of times.

For clarity, it is worth pointing out that the official investigation of the 1999 incident concluded that the man found dead in the whale exhibit had been heavily drinking prior to breaking into the park. The man drowned in the pool and several theories circulated:

1. The drunken man drowned and was played with by the whale
2. The whale played with the drunken man and killed him in the process
3. The whale tried to revive the man in the pool

As I was only visiting, I never found out what the BC coroner officially ruled. I want to believe it was the later, but it could well have been that the whale was pissed off at being trapped in such a tiny pool.

I was always interested that the words "played with" were used and not "Attacked by". It is why the incident stuck with me.

I have always suspected it is because the people of Vancouver Island live with Orca and know that the incidents of attacks are so rare as to be non-existant...Indeed I was told by one of the Canadian Whale Trainers that there had never been a documented attack by a "Killer" whale on a human being in the wild...I like to think this is true?

Whatever the case the whale was eventually moved to Sea World Florida because it had been kept captive in a tiny pool.

The people of Canada campaigned for the move, after it was ruled that the whale would not survive in the wild.

I would hope that we do not cage such sentient animals for our amusement. I would like to see them all released and a TOTAL moratorium on the capture, study and killing of all whales.

However, those that we have inherited should be treated with the same reverence as any refugee.

The tax payer should build them a huge lagoon somewhere, so that they can live the rest of their lives with the highest degree of freedom.

"From space the planet is blue.
From space, the planet is the territory
Not of humans, but of the whale" Heathcote Williams

7/10 of our planet is water and our brain is tiny in comparison to that of Tilikum. To try and analyse him by our standards is bound to fail.

He has evolved way past our destructive form and his abilities are beyond our limited perceptions and moralities.

In brain mass terms it is a bit like expecting your dog to know why she got kicked.

Build him a lagoon and let him make some babies that might actually live a life of freedom away from the lagoon.

I would chew your head off if I thought I had to live in a box, play mindless games all day rather than work as I was meant to...and then worse bring my children up to do the same...

Leila
on February 26, 2010 1:41 PM

i couldnt agree more with this. i was so angry when i found out what had happended, but not because someone had been killed, but because i knew that the whale was probably going to get condemned or 'blamed' for what had happened..HOW can people expect one of the largest preditors on earth to live happily ever after in a small tank like they miraculously seem to manage most of the time. im no naturist or anything of the sort but i do think it is so so wrong for these animals to be kept in such a way. theyre bound to lash out. oh i honestly could rant on for ages on the subject but i wont :) the article above took the words out of my mouth really

jeff horner
on February 26, 2010 1:43 PM

Breeding Males are dangerous and unpredictable in any species, why would Orcas be any different?

Tim
on February 26, 2010 1:49 PM

Well said Leila. And nice to know you like to keep your clothes on ;)

Alien Joe
on February 26, 2010 2:04 PM

Stupid human species. Putting animals in captivity. We learnt not to do this long ago. Close your Zoos and idiotic places like SeaWorld and leave the animals alone. What makes you think you have the right in the first place to treat them like this? What did you think they would do? Time up children.

Brazilian Guy
on February 26, 2010 2:42 PM

Everyone knows that domestic dogs are nothing more than Eurasian Grey Wolves domesticated and genetically deformed in order to be kept as pets. In five generations, dogs abandoned in the wild return to the behaviors of their ancestors, howling and hunting in groups (showcase: the Australian Dingo and Russian stray dogs).

Dogs annually kill much more people around the world than orcas, crocodiles or even white sharks.

So… should we abolish all domestic dogs???

Raphael
on February 26, 2010 3:15 PM

"We're in a bit of a bind. If we want to keep orca in tiny pools, we might have to expect them to attack us from time to time."

EXACTLY! If you cage someone, don't be surprised when he's not in the mood to get all touchy-feely with you. (Wait, Tilikum did -- but he weighs over a TON!)

"If we release Tilikum and long-term captive orca, like we did with Willy of Free Willy fame, we might be condemning them to loneliness and an early death."

I'd rather die free than live as a slave any day.

"So we'll probably continue to keep them in captivity. As the New York Times reports, 'that's a big money-making animal.'"

More bulls**t rationalization. Release the dolphins, period. SeaWorld et al can find other ways to make their money.

Jan Willem
on February 26, 2010 3:31 PM

The orca wasn't trying to eat the trainer, so what does being a predator have to do with it? It's not like elephants never kill their trainers, and no one blames that on them being predators.
Being a predator is no explanation for this sort of killing.

Pat
on February 26, 2010 3:40 PM

I have to agree, no more breeding in captivity and no more capturing. Perhaps they could feed a few seals or penguins to the orcas rather than fish if we need this entertainment.

Did the other prey have ponytails?

By Kathleen
on February 26, 2010 3:44 PM

I think it's telling that the audience at the previous show said the whales were not listening and trainers got out of the water.

I'm sure that T loved his trainer, but he also had to know that pulling her under water would kill her. A previous comment said that breeding males of any species are dangerous and maybe this is the closest we'll come to an answer.

I'm sure T realizes why he will never see his trainer again and maybe he's sorry.

Paul
on February 26, 2010 5:06 PM

The last line of this article says it all, a huge money making operation, they should rename the whales; Dollar, Pound ,Franc, Yen..

It's disgraceful that the SeaWorld website didn't have a message of regret on it's web site.

none
on February 26, 2010 5:34 PM

Everyone that haven't seen BBCs Life should do so. Episode one shows orcas in their natural habitat, and they aren't quite as cute when there's 10 of them trying to kill something by ramming it, something they are brutally efficient at.

Their strenght and the speed they achive are rather unnerving, especially when you realize they use it with clear intent to kill.

Whales(orcas are dolphins) also reach freightening speeds and show incredible strenght for their size, although unlike orcas they show a more habitual feeding behaviour, clearly prefering fish(or equivalent standard food) whereas orcas seem more opportunistic and eat other mammals when given the chance.

Breeze
on February 26, 2010 8:30 PM

You are so right, Leila. Us humans love to blame accidents on the animals, nobody likes to think that maybe the human was the one in the wrong. Animals don't usually attack. So what was wrong, or if nothing was wrong, what happened? What did the trainer do? And why do people think it was a mating ritual? I'm sure Tilikum realized that his trainer was not a whale.

Amy
on February 26, 2010 8:55 PM

At the end of the day, the only reason any animal (including humans to a certain extent) is going to attack is because it's hungry or somethings ticked it off. I'm pretty sure I'd be ticked off if I had to live in a bath all my life.

Brad Morgan
on February 26, 2010 10:19 PM

In th future animals with that level of intelligence and self awareness should not be allowed to be kept in captivity. The whales in captivity now should be the last.....

rocko
on February 26, 2010 10:42 PM

I can't understand the aggressive behaviour...Tilikum was a fully employed male. I thought they only became aggressive when they were unemployed. Hmmph.

Don Rodrigo
on February 26, 2010 10:45 PM

Naturalists get too close to their favorite subjects and completely loose track of the greater reality. Their clueless dismissal of the concerns of non-naturalists (and of fellow naturalists who aren't space cadets) is irritating.

Andrew
on February 26, 2010 11:04 PM

They are not killer whales, they are whale killers! IE Orcas.

Like Chris Rock said. That tiger didn't go crazy!! That tiger went tiger.

Even a dog will bite the hand that feeds them. Given enough pent up frustration.

I hope the Orcas continue to kill their so called trainers. Screw the trainers. Let the Orcas run free and eat baby whales like they have for millenia!

Koblog
on February 26, 2010 11:10 PM

I think we sometimes lump Tilikum the Killer Orca in with Flipper the friendly Bottlenose Dolphin.

We can thank Walt Disney and the anthropomorphizing of animals for this.

Give an animal a name and you think it's human. Put it in a cartoon and it even talks. Heck, you can even have a shark go on the wagon and swear to become a vegetarian.

Why do we always assume that an animal would really prefer to live in the wild? My "outdoor" cat keeps trying to come inside (especially when it is cold), and meow's to be fed, even though he is perfectly capable of feeding himself.

Life in the wild is "nasty, short, and brutish." An orca in captivity get three squares a day and a temperature controlled pool, plus an occasional mate (without having to fight!). And free medical and dental care! Is such a creature really board, what with the constant training and shows?

My point is not that a Killer whale couldn't be very negatively affected by his captivity, but that we should not assume that they are unhappy. Also, if he was unhappy, how can we tell? What kind of tests would show it?

Gonzo
on February 26, 2010 11:56 PM

These are APEX predators. There's even video of an Orca killing a Great White shark. They're highly intelligent and if anyone doubts it, go see the video where a group of Orca's figured out to make waves with their tales, then TEAMED UP in perfect unison to make them even bigger to wash a seal off an iceberg.

The woman who was killed and all the trainers know the dangers, and they believe the conservation values of exposing people to these animals are worth it. The institution KNOWS its wort it to them, just in terms of the the value of the animal for breeding and the draw for fans.

Sometimes people die doing what they love. Maybe its skiing, maybe its boating, maybe its race car driving, or maybe its hanging out with these sort of creatures. Unless you want to put all people into matrix style slavery, that's the nature of life and, here, the nature of the beast.

OscartheGrouch
on February 26, 2010 11:58 PM

If Tilikum was a Pit Bull he would have been put down 2 people ago

Suz
on February 27, 2010 12:01 AM

Nothing in comparison as to the killing, mass destruction by the worst animal on planet Earth: HUMANS! These great creatures should not be exploited for our amusement. Humans need to respect, show care and compassion for all non-human life! Our role should be that of care-takers. As a specie we do not deserve this great planet with its great variety of life.... Only a few humans get it, including His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Jane Goodall!

John
on February 27, 2010 12:02 AM

A few years ago we had the experience of seeing Luna near Gold River, British Columbia.
This was a wild killer whale that was approaching humans in various ways, sometimes quite agressively.
To my wife and myself, we were amazed at the parents who let their little children lean over the edge of the dock to try and pat Luna.

Ponderosa
on February 27, 2010 12:32 AM

@Leila

There are (many) other Orcas in captivity which have not killed three people.

Perhaps it is time to release this one?

Tomt
on February 27, 2010 12:34 AM

Kill the whale!

Roux
on February 27, 2010 12:35 AM

OscartheGrouch is right and this animal should be put down. Sorry that he's cute but he's also dangerous.

"Do we really need to explain why a top predator would attack a potential prey item?"

I recognize that Killer Whales (and tigers, etc.) are wild and could kill someone after having been in captivity and not having harmed someone for an extended period of time. But then why haven't the other Killer Whales at Sea World done so, and how is it that some of them in captivity never hurt their trainers? The article seems written to create the "duh!" response, but the question is not silly. Predators kill to eat or to protect themselves. This animal did not try to eat the trainer and appears to have been well fed. Surely trying to understand predatory behavior that is not undertaken for the sake of eating is a questions that does not simply answer itself by knowing the animal is a "killer".

Deb MacKay
on February 27, 2010 1:05 AM

I've never understood why people are surprised when animals act like animals.

KILLERwail
on February 27, 2010 1:19 AM

Dopey, warm-fuzzy utopian fantasies are the hallmark of a growing breed who have lost their sense of reality. (they are largely liberal democrats, btw) Notice all the theorizing as to why this nice, friendly KILLER whale could do such a thing.
There are animals and PEOPLE that will kill you. Period.
No matter how nice you are to them. They are not "misunderstood" . They didnt necessarily have a difficult childhood. It is their very nature to kill.
Keep that in mind before you put your head in a lion's mouth or kiss a KILLER whale. Or appease a ruthless dictator.

Surprised
on February 27, 2010 1:21 AM

Why is an animal that has previously attacked people still kept in contact with people? If they are not going to put him down, the whale should be banned from contact with humans. If I were a trainer, I would stipulate no tank time with Tilikum.

Sean P
on February 27, 2010 1:44 AM

"i was so angry when i found out what had happended, but not because someone had been killed"

Oh, god no, wouldn't want to be upset about THAT. How... gauche.

Strange
on February 27, 2010 1:56 AM

"completely loose track "

What's irritating is people unable to understand the difference between lose and loose. You'd be taken more seriously if you learned how to spell simple words correctly.

Whales and other big animals kept in captivity may not realise that human beings are not as as strong as themselves as the trainers usually stand over them and behave dominantly. Also, they may not realise that humans cannot survive as long underwater. This can lead to accidents even with non-aggressive animals.

The way the attack in Orlando has been described in the press resembles attack on seals. Many people have seen on tv how killer whales toy with seal pups (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0qMT2YBIcg&feature=related) -- a strange mix of predation and play. Once the trainer was in the water and grabbed by the whale it is possible that it triggered this type of behaviour.

Had killer whales been land predators they would probably attack humans in the wild and share the same reputation as tigers. Yet, for some reason the direct interaction with killer whales is not seen as dangerous due to the popular image of the species.

charlotte
on February 27, 2010 2:51 PM

Some people are just thick. Wild animals should be wild. Duh

Lorrin Barth
on February 27, 2010 5:58 PM

Years ago, in Southern California, I visited Lion Country Safari. As I drove through the park I witnessed two employees dragging a tire on a rope behind an open Jeep. The Lions chased the tire like a kitten chases a string. It was fun to watch but I wondered about the safety of the vehicle occupants. Next day, the LA paper revealed that an employee of the park was dead, killed by a Lion. I felt a chill as I wondered if I had narrowly missed seeing this happen.

The notice in the paper was small and buried in the back pages. The points is, if you choose to work with large dangerous animals, it should be no surprise when something bad happens. The incident with the whale deserved the same amount of coverage this unfortunate incident got.

What happens when you lock a human being in a cell 24/7/365? They go crazy.

Elephants, Killer Whales, Bottlenose Dolphins, none of these species should be locked in the prison cells that are our zoos, amusement parks, and circuses.

In our society we have prisons to keep the rest of us safe from prisoners.

Zoos, amusement parks, and circuses exist so humans can observe the various animals of the world and be entertained by them.

We need to pass laws banning the killing or imprisoning of animals with brains as big or bigger than our own, they could be self-aware like us. If that is the case how do you think these animals would feel about being locked up or hunted by humans like they are?

peter reynolds
on February 27, 2010 9:32 PM

need a spell check .....
that should be....the killer whale was .. ."enacting an eating behaviour"

peter reynolds
on February 27, 2010 9:39 PM

Hope he got paid well. Wonder how much the next one gets paid? Does the whale get any say at the job interview? I suppose he's trained to point.....

Jezz
on February 28, 2010 10:27 AM

Let's not forget that dogs in the wild are top predators and/or scavengers too! Admittedly they're range is much small er than an Orca but nevertheless millions are kept in inappropriately small spaces, sometimes almost exclusively inside! How many of you own a dog? Isn't it a little hypocritical to condemn zoo animals who on the whole are far better cared for than 'domestic' 'pets' while you have a cute little pouch curled up by your feet?

Jan
on February 28, 2010 4:53 PM

I think letting Tilikum go is the right solution. When an animal kills three people in three separate incidents over the course of many years, that's pretty much the definition of an animal that should not be kept around people. Release him or euthanize him. Pick one. If a horse, dog, bear, tiger or lion had been involved there would be no question. Even if he were human, he'd be kept from repeating his act. When an animal must be in close contact with

The comparison with Great White Sharks was both amusing and appropriate. We shouldn't forget these creatures are wild top predators. The woman killed

It's the old snake and the frog story again. The sudden but inevitable betrayal thing. You can't blame the orca for acting like an orca.

Orcas are predators. Some eat predominantly fish, others eat predominantly mammals (seals, sealions, etc). This particular orca had form. Why were they still using him in performances?

Still, juggling blame around like this detracts from the tragedy of somebody's death. However, I hope that the inquest (there will presumably have to be one) will make sure that the management of the park are held accountable for their part in this tragedy.

xris
on March 1, 2010 5:51 AM

It's tragic that this girl lost her life, made even more so, given her devotion to the orca in question, and sea mammals in general.

But this cannot merely be considered a random act of violence on the part of an animal. Consideration must be given to the habitat the orca was allowed: how many of us would eventually lose it if we were kept in an environment as relatively small as the one provided to Tilikum?

Wild animals need a habitat that, at the very least, attempts to mimic their natural surroundings - but no ocean park I've ever seen [on TV, 'cos I've never been to one myself] does more than put their prize possessions in little more than a swimming pool, with a few toys.

Namby Pamby
on March 1, 2010 6:39 AM

I don't think they can release many or any current animals to the wild responsibly; they were all bred in captivity.

carl
on March 3, 2010 4:07 PM

orca's go hunting seals , at enormous risk surf in and snatch them from the shorelines before dragging them back to sea, it's like a sport to them.... glad to see this orca keeping his skills sharpened :)

Hi, I started a Swedish blog about aquariums a while back. Nice to get some inspiration from you.

Card
on July 25, 2010 1:11 PM

Also, an orca may attack not because it is bored or lonely but also because us human look like pratical seals from under the water, so the orca may have been hungry and thought that it was a seal, then realised it wasnt a seal.